Accident & Income Protection for the Trade
A rooftop slip, a refrigerant burn, a back tweak lifting a 90-lb condenser — the medical plan covers the doctor, but who pays the rent the three weeks you can't climb a ladder? That's what supplemental and short-term disability coverage do.
The Three Riders Every HVAC Tech Should Cost Out
Accident insurance
Pays a fixed cash benefit (usually $100–$10,000+ depending on injury) directly to you for specific covered events: fractures, dislocations, burns, lacerations requiring stitches, ER visits, ambulance transport. The good policies explicitly cover refrigerant burns and falls from heights — we filter the ones that don't.
Hospital indemnity
Pays per night of hospital admission — typically $150–$500/night, with a multiplier for ICU. Useful in HDHP setups where a 3-day admit could blow through your entire deductible before any cash comes out of pocket.
Short-term disability
Replaces 40–70% of your income when you can't work for 2 weeks to 6 months. The single most important rider for owner-operators and 1099 contractors who have no W-2 sick leave to lean on.
Typical Trade Payouts (Real Claim Examples)
When to Skip a Supplemental
Supplementals don't make sense for everyone. If you carry a low-deductible PPO with a generous out-of-pocket cap, the accident rider may be redundant. We'll show you the actual numbers before you bind a policy you don't need.
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